Bringing Area Athletes to Israel
Eleven Potomac residents to represent U.S. in Jewish athletic competition.

By Noah Goetzel

(Photo by Noah Goetzel/The Almanac) From left to right: Gary Raizon, Harris Rosenblatt, Marc Youngentob, Yahly Levy, Sophie Jacobson, and Michael April will represent the Potomac area as members of Team USA in the upcoming Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Lisa Reichmann, Open Half Marathon co-chairperson for team USA in the upcoming Maccabiah Games, hosted a send-off party on June 22 for all competitors in the Gaithersburg area participating in the upcoming quadrennial event.

The celebration featured many Potomac athletes who will compete in the July 13-23 Maccabiah Games scheduled to be held in several Israeli cities. Included in the festivities were Class of ’09 Churchill alumni Gary Raizon and Marc Youngentob. After winning the Maryland State Golf Championship as part of Churchill’s golf team this past fall, they will go against other international teams in the juniors golf tournament at their first Maccabiah Games.

“After playing for Greater Washington’s golf team in the JCC Maccabi games from 2004-2007, I have always enjoyed traveling around the country and meeting new people,” Raizon, 18, said. “The best part of my Maccabi Games experience was the opening ceremonies in front of huge crowds, so I can’t wait to represent my country for an even more significant event.”

The Maccabiah Games is Israel’s version of the Olympics and is expected to host 5,300 athletes from around the world along with another 2,000 Israeli athletes during its 18th gathering this summer. According to Maccabiusa.com, the Maccabiah Games is the largest sports event in the world aside from the Olympics and World Cup. This summer’s event features participants from 60 countries playing 28 different sports.

“It is a fascinating, but nerve-racking experience that I’m sure I will never forget,” said Sophie Jacobson, 17, a rising senior at Churchill who will run the 400-, 800-, 1500- and 3000-meter races for the Juniors Track and Field Championship. “I want to help my team get a gold medal and record my personal best time in the 800.”

Jacobson runs track and cross-country during the school year, but has been training every day over the summer to increase her mileage. Physician Michael April, 51, will also participate in his first ever Maccabiah Games when he plays catcher in the Men’s Open Fast Pitch Softball Championships in Jerusalem this July.

A former Johns Hopkins baseball player, April says he trains year-round by running, lifting weights, playing for a local league, and coaching Churchill’s girls’ softball team six days a week. However, April says he has upped his training since pursuing a spot on the USA Maccabiah team by traveling around the country and participating in various try-outs and tournaments.

“I value all of the friendships I have made with my teammates and look forward to meeting new Jewish athletes and strengthening my Jewish ties when I visit Israel for the first time,” April said.

April may consider competing in the Pan American Games or Maccabi Australia International Games in the future, but at 51 he considers himself fortunate to compete in this summer’s games.

Other Potomac residents participating in the Maccabiah Games are April’s wife, Linda (men’s open softball manager), Daniel Grunfeld (men’s open basketball), Jashua Hafkin (open swimming), Yahly Levy (juniors swimming), Jonathan Missner (masters tennis), Harris Rosenblatt (masters tennis) and Amanda Saber (women’s open field hockey).

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 8:53 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.